How to Avoid Fighting on a Romantic Vacation

If You Don't Want to Hate Your SO by the End of Vacation, Read This

Raise your hand if you're planning a romantic Summer getaway! Are you hoping to drown yourself in love and delicious California cuisine in wine country? Looking to escape to New York to find the beauty in the urban jungle and each other? Maybe you're setting out to sea or have designs for the ultimate romantic trip to Paris. No matter where you're headed, you'll want to keep fights at bay. See four common travel pitfalls that every couple faces and solutions to help you avoid them now!

1. Overexposure

The risk: Even if you live together, a romantic getaway means more quality time than you're used to — which is the whole point! Still, spending every waking minute with each other could lead to petty bickering.The resolution: Consider activities you can each do on your own. Maybe you want to take a yoga class, while your significant other plays golf. Or, spend the morning exploring the local shops, while your partner heads to the gym. If you know friends in the area, plan to get a drink with them one night before dinner just to mix things up.The reward: You'll appreciate your time together even more.

2. High Sex-pectations

The risk: Whether on a honeymoon or a trip to celebrate an anniversary, couples can feel the pressure to perform between the sheets. If it's not happening more than usual, resentment or discontent can build.The resolution: Take advantage of not having to be up for work and spend some extra time in bed getting busy in the morning. You're more likely to be in the mood earlier in the day than when you sleepily return after a long day or a filling meal with lots of wine. Plus, it's a great way to start things off!The reward: You can reconnect with your partner, instead of leaving more dissatisfied than you were before the trip.

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3. Opposites Don't Attract

The risk: He likes a perfectly planned day jam-packed with museum visits, tours, and sightseeing. You're more keen to sleep in and lounge around until a nice dinner out. The discrepancy between one partner's vision of relaxation and the other's dream of adventure can cause tension the entire trip.The resolution: Compromise, of course! In addition to dedicating a day of your vacation to seeing the sites, add on a little adventure to your relaxation activities. If you're in a coastal town, sign up for a beachside water sport like jet skiing that you can enjoy in between lounging on the beach and sipping tropical drinks. If you're staying at a resort, book a reservation for a long, luxurious meal in town and head out early so you have time to walk around and discover a new place.The reward: Everybody's happy.

4. Unexpected Disaster

The risk: The airline lost your luggage, a pickpocket stole your passport, or maybe you got in an accident with your rental car. No matter how much you plan, traveling always opens the door for an unexpected logistical nightmare that can cost you money, time, and sanity — a perfect recipe for a fight.The resolution: Mentally prepare for a vaguely stressful situation before you leave, and remind yourself that these scenarios make the best stories. With our adrenaline pumping and our minds alert, we're bound to remember every detail of a vacation disaster, so try to add some humor to the experience. Also attempt to make the most of it. If you lost your luggage on the way to New York City, take it as an opportunity to buy an outfit you would only wear in a fast-moving city. Or, if your passport was stolen causing you to navigate a foreign city, remind yourself that it's a chance to really interact with the locals.The reward: Memories that can last you and your partner a lifetime.